Holder for tear strip can openers



Dec. 1, 1959 E. w. WOOLFOLK EI L 2,915,215

HOLDER FOR TEAR STRIP CAN OPENERS Filed Dec. 11, 1956 I INVENTORS Eldon W moh olk BY Hirmc M.Bo11

United States Patent HOLDER FOR TEAR STRIP CAN OPENERS Eldon W. Woolfolk, Portland, and Herman M. Boll,

Beaverton, 0reg., assignors to Beaman Plastics, Portland, Oreg., a corporation of Oregon Application December 11, 1956, Serial No. 627,664

2 Claims. (Cl. 220-52) This invention pertains to can openers of the type wherein a key is employed to wind off the tear strip which seals the can, and relates particularly to a novel holder for such keys by which to facilitate operation of the latter.

The use of keys of the aforementioned type is attended by many disconcerting problems, principal among which is the dilficulty of maintaining alignment of the tear strip as it is wound spirally about the key. This difficulty arises from the fact that the key may be displaced longitudinally and obliquely with respect to its longitudinal axis during normal manipulation. Moreover, since it is required during hand operation to release the key from the fingers intermittently to secure a new grip for further rotation, that spiral portion of the tear strip already wound upon the key tends to uncoil and become disarranged, causing further difficulty.

It is a principal object of the present invention to provide a can opener key holder by means of which the foregoing difficulties attending the usual operation of a can opener key are minimized, whereby to afford removal of the tear strip with speed and facility.

Another important object of this invention is to provide a can opener key holder in a form which functions additionally as a measuring cup.

A further important object of this invention is to provide a can opener key holder which is of simplified construction for economical manufacture.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of this invention will appear from the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary plan view of a can opener key holder embodying features of the present invention, the same being shown in operative position on a can;

Figure 2 is a view in side elevation, partly in section, of the can opener key holder shown in Figure 1, showing the operative relationship therewith of a can opener key and can;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 3-3 in Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a plan view of a modified form of can opener key holder; and

Figure 5 is a view in side elevation of the modified form of can opener key holder in Figure 4.

Referring to the drawings, the holder of the present invention is adapted for use with the conventional type of key normally attached to those types of cans which are sealed by a removable tear strip 12. The key is formed of a length of wire and includes a shank portion 14 and a handle portion 16. The terminal end of the shank portion is flattened and provided with an elongated slot 18 therethrough. The handle portion is shaped in the form of a substantially oval loop, and is a longitudinal extension of the shank.

The key slot 18 is adapted to receive therein the projecting tab of the tear strip circumscribing the can, with the shank of the key extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of the can, and with the handle of the key projecting beyond the end of the can.

In accordance with the present invention, a holder is provided by which to facilitate manipulation of the key. In the embodiments illustrated, the holder comprises a flat cylindrical disc 20, from one side of which projects a finger grip tab 22. This tab is positioned to extend diametrically across the disc and to terminate inwardly of the peripheral edge of the latter.

A slot 24 is formed in the holder, extending through the disc and into the finger tab. As shown in the drawing, this slot is dimensioned in length and depth to receive therein the loop handle 16 of the key. Moreover, this slot is dimensioned in widthwise thickness to frictionally secure the key handle against the side walls thereof. In its preferred form, the slot is tapered inwardly to a thickness less than the diameter of the wire forming the key handle. This taper not only assures positive gripping of the key handle, but also accommodates the slight variations in wire thicknesses with prevail in keys of various manufacturers. The base of the slot preferably conforms to the contour of the abutting end of the key to stabilize the latter against lateral displacement.

The key holder preferably is constructed of syntheticresins of the thermoplastic or therrriosetting types to afford manufacture by well-known holding techniques. Of these types of resins the thermoplastic resins which are characterized by a degree of resilience are preferred. The resilience of the material forming the finger tab permits the slot to be dimensioned somewhat smaller in thickness than the diameter of the wire key handle, thus enhancing the gripping action on the key within the key slot.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 of the drawing, the key holder is providedwith a peripheral wall 26 which projects from the periphery of the disc in the direction of the finger tab. Thus, the wall forms with the disc a convenient measuring cup, the volume of which may be varied as desired by properly dimensioning the circumference and length of the wall. If desired, a handle 28 may be secured to the wall, as illustrated, to facilitate manipulation of the measuring cup.

In use, the'handle 16 of the key is inserted in the key slot 18 of the holder, wherein it is retained frictionally as described hereinbefore. The surface of the disc 20 facing the slot 18in the end of the key shank then is placed in abutment with the edge of a can 10, as illustrated in Fig. 2, and the projecting tab of the tear strip is inserted in the key slot. Rotation of the holder and key then is achieved either by gripping the tab 22 (Figures 4 and 5) between the fingers, or by gripping the measuring cup wall 26 (Figures 1, 2 and 3) between the fingers, and imparting a rotary motion to the disc 20 on the axis of the key shank 14.

Referring particularly to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing, it is to be noted that a substantial portion of the disc 2f) abuts against the edge of the can 10 during operation of the key, thereby preventing oblique displacement of.

the latter. Moreover, this firm abutment tends to inhibit unwinding of the tear strip as the latter is coiled upon the key or intermittent manipulation of the latter by the hand.

Thus, there is provided by the present invention a holder by means of which the difiiculties usually attending the operation of a can opener key are obviated. The finger grip tab of the holder is long enough, in contrast with the small dimensions of the key handle, to overcome the usual discomfort attending manipulation of the latter, and to afford an adequate grip for the fingers for effective operation. Use of the holder also overcomes the usual tendency of the tear strip coil wound upon the key from becoming disarranged axially thus assuring proper removal of the strip with maximum speed and facility.

The holder construction also permits the incorporation therewith of a cylindrical Wall which, While performing the primary 'functionof a cylindrical finger grip for the holder, also forms a cup which may be utilized to measure'predetermined quantitiesof coffee orxother material. The holder may be produced in one piece, preferably by the holding of a thermoplastic resin, thus affording manufacture at minimum cost.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the various details of construction described hereinbefore may be changed Without departing from the scope and spirit of this invention. Accordingly, it is to be understood that the foregoing description is primarily illustrative of the invention and is not to be considered as limiting the scope thereof.

Having now described our invention and the manner in which the same maybe used, what We claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A holder for a can opener key having a handle end, the holder comprising a disc, an elongated tab projecting centrally from one side of the disc in the axial direction of the disc, the disc and tab having a slot therein extending into the tab from the side of the disc opposite the tab, the slot being closed at its sides and inner end and at least a portion thereof being dimensioned slightly smaller in thickness than the corresponding dimention of the handle end of a can opener key, the tab being made of a material of the type which renders the side walls ofthe tab transversely flexible, whereby the handle end of a can opener key is receivable into the slot and retained therein by the frictional grip exerted thereon by the flexible side walls of the tab, and a peripheral wall joined to the periphery of the disc and projecting in the direction of the tab to form a measuring container.

2. A holder for a can opener key having a handle end, the holder consisting of a .singlernolded piece of flexible synthetic resin and comprising a disc, an elongated tab projecting centrally from one side of the disc in the axial direction of the disc, the discand tab having a slot therein extending into the tab from the side of the disc opposite the tab, the slot being closed at its sides and inner end and at least a portion thereof being dimensioned slightly smaller in thickness than thecorresponding dimension of the handle end of a can opener key, the side walls of the tab being transversely flexible whereby the handle end of a can opener key is receivable into the slot and retained therein by the frictional grip exerted thereon by the flexible side walls of the tab, and a peripheral wall joined to the periphery of the disc and projecting in the.direction ofthe tab to form a measuring container.

,References Cited inthe file of thispatent 'UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,712,667 Hart May.14, 1929 2,702,653 Goldenberg Feb. 22, 1955 2,714,468 Stuvel Aug. 2, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS 259,040 Great Britain Oct. 7, 1926 

